Lightning: Lightning left dizzy by ups and downs

[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Lightning center Tim Taylor, sliding into the Maple Leafs' Wade Belak, says many of the problems are mental.

SUNRISE -- Forgive Lightning coach John Tortorella if he is feeling a little seasick. But that is what a continuous stretch of ups and downs will do.

Grab the Dramamine, we're going for a ride.

Going up: A dramatic 1-0 victory over the Red Wings on Jan. 7.

Going down: A listless 3-2 overtime loss to the Thrashers on Jan. 9.

Up: An overwhelming 6-2 victory over the Senators on Jan. 20.

Down: An unsatisfying 2-2 tie with the Canadiens on Jan. 22.

Up: A stunning 4-1 victory over the Stars on Jan. 24.

Down: A horrible 3-2 loss to the Predators on Jan. 25.

Up: Consecutive victories over the Flyers and Hurricanes going into the All-Star break.

Down: A lame 5-1 loss to the Capitals in the first game back and a 3-2 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs on Thursday after losing a 2-1 third-period lead.

If you have figured out consistency is the Lightning's problem, you are an astute hockey observer. If you have a fix for the final 28 regular-season games, give Tortorella a call.

"I don't think anybody has an answer to finding consistency," the coach said. "All we can try to do is try to harp on the concentration level and the little things. It's a tough question because you're dealing with the mental toughness of athletes, and every athlete has a different level of mental toughness."

Entering Friday, the Lightning was seventh in the East but two points from being out of the top eight in the conference, which make the playoffs.

Consider where the team would be if it followed the above good performances with ones of equal intensity.

A conservative count gives it four additional points. A severe reckoning says it should have six, which would have tied Tampa Bay for first in the Southeast and put it comfortably within the playoff structure instead of clinging to it by its fingernails.

"It's all mental," center Tim Taylor said. "It's just showing up and being prepared. It's little things like making sure the puck gets out of your zone, and on the penalty kill getting the puck all the way down."

"It comes down to individual preparation," defenseman Cory Sarich said. "If a guy is not getting ready, he needs a kick in the butt. Everybody has to be accountable. Individually you have to be accountable, and as a team you have to be responsible for everyone else in the room."

Much easier said than done, especially for a team that is the league's fifth-youngest, has 10 skaters who never have been in an NHL playoff race and whose talent level, overall, is still lacking.

Tortorella has said using inexperience as an excuse is unacceptable. But games are generally more intense after the All-Star break and even more so when teams are fighting for playoff position. That can be a revelation to the inexperienced.

"Younger teams have so many highs and lows. It's not a straight line," Taylor said. "Older teams come to play every night. They don't always have their best stuff, but they don't beat themselves. Knowing what the game is all about, bringing your best work ethic every night, things fall into place."

Tortorella said preparation should be ongoing.

"It has to be the most important thing in your life," he said. "If you feel that way about it, you're always going to be thinking about it, and that will bring you to a different level of consistency.

"I'm not talking about 10:30 to 12:30 on practice days. I'm not talking about 7 to 9:30 on game days. I'm talking throughout the day. You can't just show up at your work place and expect to get it done."

"Guys just have to be ready to work hard within the team concept and do the little things and extra things," Sarich said. "You've got to come out of your role a little bit and try to make a difference, maybe a little more offense or a little more defense depending on what your specialty is. That's being ready to go."

That is being ready to go up.